Hal came up and giving the signal to Hans hit a fast grounder to the left of the pitcher’s box which went toward second like a shot and was well fielded by Hollins. Hans was, however, almost home by this time and all Hollins could do was to catch Hal at first which he did. The score was again tied and two out, Delvin made the third one by knocking a fly into Warcford’s hands.
It had been nip and tuck between the two teams up to this time with the advantage of a lead, when there was any, always with Jefferson, and Lowell’s best efforts were used to keep even.
The strain was beginning to tell on both teams, and Black buckled down to outguess Laird, the first man up in the fifth, but Laird was the best guesser and got a base on balls when Miner failed to put the third one over. Tommy Beach made a beautiful bunt down the third base line and as Laird had a good lead off first he got all the way around to third when the throw went to first and Beach was out.
Church at bat signaled Laird for another squeeze play and Harry did his part all right, but Jefferson’s captain missed the ball and Gibbie touched Laird out at the plate. Then Church hit a fast bounder to the left of Arthur who made a great stop and throw to Hal, retiring Church.
Gibbie came to bat and singled to right and there was great hope of Lowell getting the advantage. The plan went through all right so far as Miner was concerned, as he sacrificed and Gibbie reached second.
This brought Johnny to bat and he had the hard luck to touch one of Mellen’s twisters for a foul which fell into Roger’s big mitt and there were two out.
Captain Larke tried to knock the ball out of the diamond but the best he could do was an easy roller to La Joy who, however, made a mess of it with two attempts at picking it up before getting it, and by that time Larke was safe on first and Gibbie on third.
Larke started for second to draw the throw for the double steal but Roger couldn’t be tempted to throw the ball any place and Cap got credit for a steal. Having struck out Robb before, Mellen walked Talkington, filling the bases, and then Ty knocked a fly to the fence in center field; but when it came down Beach was there waiting for it.
Hollins, the first batter for Jefferson in the sixth, ought to have been out, as he knocked a liner direct into Robb’s hands. Ty dropped it, however, and Hollins hustled to first. The error upset the boys a little and when Hollins started to steal second Gibbie made a poor throw and the Jefferson shortstop was safe.